I was looking at early Gen 1 artwork and sprite, particularly how Charmander originally had back spikes that were later removed, and it got me thinking about discarded design ideas in early Pokémon development.
There’s a long running fan theory that Cubone may have originally been connected to something else before its identity was finalized. Most people jump to the baby Kangaskhan theory because of visual similarities, but I’ve always felt that explanation leaned more on shape than on lore.
Cubone’s Pokédex entries consistently emphasize abandonment, isolation, and survival. Its skull helmet, its behavior, even the way it cries into the mask. To me, it all feels rooted in hardship rather than maternal continuity.
Curious what others think.
Does Cubone feel like a fully separate concept from the beginning — or something that evolved away from another lineage?
by CommunicationSweet13